Fatherhood Factor

For all the "dealings" of dads...

Parenting

Fun Ways To Involve Your Kids With Interior Design

By Leave a Comment

There are few joys greater than watching your kids explore their passions and interests in life. However, sometimes introducing them to new things is the best way to spark some serious enthusiasm. Consider these fun ways to involve your kids with interior design during your next home project.

Have Them Create a Rough Draft

Whether through an online simulation program or crayons and paper, letting your kids have a say in what their rooms look like is a lot of fun. It’s important to emphasize what the room “could” look like and avoid making promises about the final result. However, implementing a few design elements is a straightforward way to get them giddy and excited about their room’s design.

Ask About Details

While most kids don’t know the finer details that go into the interior design process, they are more than capable of identifying colors and describing textures. Once they’ve told you what they like, you can match design elements to their preferences. For example, their preferred textures can help you determine which of the most popular rug fibers would suit them best. You can also pick out lightbulbs according to their preferred lighting warmth! Sometimes the descriptions your kids will offer will be simple, but they might also surprise you with some detailed contributions.

Record Their Work

Pictures of the rooms your children create for themselves allow them to look back on the past and witness their personal progress firsthand. When they’re older, your child might wonder how they thought their initial designs were stylish or cool. But in the end, they will look upon the experience as a fond memory they are thankful to have. Being able to improve on their past designs is also a bonus that creative kids will appreciate.

There is no telling what your kids are going to grow up to be. However, the doors you open for them occasionally lend them the chance to discover something special about who they are. You can connect with your children and inspire them to explore their creative sides by considering these fun ways to involve your kids with interior design.

A Brief Overview of a Baby’s First-Year Milestones

By Leave a Comment

The smile is the first major thing a baby accomplishes during the first year of life. At first, it seems like gas, but rest assured, it’s a smile for you! Here’s a brief overview of a baby’s first-year milestones.

The Widest Smile You’ll Ever See

Let’s not forget about the smile! About 2 months into their life, a baby will take notice of your presence, face, and voice. When babies bond with a parent, sibling, or whoever else is around, they smile most at them since they feel closer to those individuals. Your voice, presence, and face make them smile!

Sleeping Through the Night

During the first three months, babies struggle to sleep through the night and adapt to a routine. As they’re adjusting to a new world, they may still struggle to sleep past 4 and 6 months. If this happens and they exhibit one of the signs they’re not getting enough sleep, try finding the reason.

Sometimes it’s the crib—the crib might not have the right mattress type, or your furniture’s severely outdated, meaning you’ll need to upgrade the crib to one made from natural, toxin-free materials, like wood.

That First Little Giggle

When babies cry, they could fill an entire amphitheater with noise. Don’t fret, though! Once your baby’s 4 months old, they start to laugh. The slight noise escaping their lips is nothing but the sweet sound of giggles! Whether you’re tickling them, playing peek-a-boo, or making silly faces, they won’t stop.

Say Their First Word

The first word is the best milestone! From first saying “mama” or “dada” to saying different animal names, the first-word stage is the most memorable. On average, babies start talking between 12 and 18 months but can start as early as 9 months.

Standing and Walking for the First Time

Where is your little explorer wandering off to? If they’re on their legs and slowly making their way toward you, then it’s definitely you they’re after! Between 9 and 12 months, babies begin to stand and walk on their own.

It’s completely normal for babies to walk later, at 18 months. As your little one discovers how fast they can run and finds any excuse to get up and follow you around, make sure you block off the stairs, kitchen, and bathrooms.

So, parent, now that you know what milestones babies accomplish in their first year, what one are you most excited about? It will be a breathtaking journey for you and your baby, and the first year is the most exciting.

Summer Send-Off: How To Throw the Best Family Pizza Night

By Leave a Comment

It’s near the end of the season, and you’ve scratched what feels like a million activities off your summer bucket list. Whether you camped in the backyard for many weekends, visited a theme park, or hosted more pool parties than you can count, it’s safe to say that you’ve done it all!

However, the kids are planning their last hurrah of the break before returning to study nights and pop quizzes, and you want in! How about taking part in the summer send-off and learning how to throw the best family pizza night your young ones will experience? Continue reading below to learn more!

Just Dough It

Pizza night is the perfect opportunity to make your dough. Regardless of the recipe you use and the ingredients it requires, you never want to forget to proof your pizza dough.

As one of the most common pizza making mistakes, not allowing your dough to rest and rise for a final before pulling can result in a dense, rubbery, final product that your family may struggle to enjoy.

While most dough suggests a two- to three-day proofing process, a 24-hour minimum is acceptable if you’re under time constraints. You can involve your young ones in this step by allowing them to mix the ingredients.

Pro tip: If you don’t have the dough ingredients readily available or you’re really crunched for time, you can always make it a pizza bagel night and have kids pick out their favorite bagel.

The Sauce Is the Boss

Whether store-bought or homemade, it’s an essential first layer to your pizza festivity. If you would rather make it yourself, you can’t go wrong with quality canned tomatoes, oregano, salt, pepper, and basil.

On a separate note, kids are creative, fascinating people who can spice up recipes instantly. If your family prefers barbecue over red sauce, feel free to test it out! You can also use alfredo sauce as an alternative.

Make It Cheesy

Now that you have your dough and sauce, it’s time to consider your cheese options. While there is an overwhelming amount of cheese options on the market, a low-moisture mozzarella is typically the go-to for that epic cheese pull.

However, the decision is entirely up to you and the family! A sprinkle of parmesan is also a tried-and-true detail that is the genuine chef’s kiss to a perfect pie.

Top It Off With Finishing Touches

Now the best part: toppings! Traditional pepperoni slices for that instant classic, but if you’re using barbecue or alfredo sauce, consider grilled chicken slices, black olives, and pepperoncini as delicious options.

You can use a variety of leftover vegetables you have on hand and take a poll of everyone’s favorite toppings so you have them readily available during the final customization. Pair the meal with the kids’ favorite dessert to end the night on a sweet note!

Throwing the best family pizza night takes plenty of work, planning, and toppings! You don’t have to have an elaborate setup or state-of-the-art equipment to make it successful. All you’ll need are a few ingredients, patience, and the people you care about most to share the experience with.

Activities To Do Before the Summer Gets Away From You

By Leave a Comment

Summer is already here, and that means it’s time to get out there and enjoy the nicer weather. It can be easy to put things off until it’s too late. If you need some inspiration, this list of activities you can do before the summer gets away from you should be valuable.

Plan That Family Camping Trip

Around April or May, it’s easy to say that you want to take the family camping this summer, but it’s much more difficult to actually pull it off. You must make sure you have all of the necessary gear for the campsite on top of checking to see if all of your kids packed everything they needed. Plus, you have to find a suitable campground site with activities that everyone will enjoy.

We get it—this can all be quite stressful. Fortunately, once you get there, it should be much smoother sailing. You can either kick back and relax or partake in some fun camping events.

Get Some House Projects Out of the Way

One thing that all dads like to put off when summer rolls around is the big house projects that need to get done this year. However, some of the best outdoor improvements can be the most rewarding in the end, which is why it’s so vital that you start now. That way, you can make sure you have plenty of time to admire your work and take advantage of its benefits. Plus, you can use the rest of the season for more fun excursions with the big project out of the way.

Set Up a Garage Sale

Unfortunately, we have another one for you that isn’t quite as fun but needs to get done. A garage sale is a summer activity that always has a habit of getting away from people. This is why you need to begin the season with a full-blown garage sale. We’re sure that your family has a ton of unused stuff that others will gladly buy from you. Even though you likely won’t make a ton of money from one of these, you can at least put it toward another fun activity.

Join a Sports Team

Let’s do something that’s just for Dad. Joining a local sports team is a great way to get some sun while participating in an activity that you enjoy. Whether you decide to play something that you did back in high school or try out something new, we’re sure you’ll have a blast with it. Who knows? You might even make some new friends that you can spend time with when you’re not at home.

Try Something New

At the end of the day, though, the goal of this article is to get you thinking about your options this summer. There are so many things to do, and we don’t know what you’ve already tried. That’s why it’s best to just get out there and do something you’ve never done before. You won’t regret it.

Fun and Easy Crafts You Can Do With Your Kids

By Leave a Comment

Fun and Easy Crafts You Can Do With Your Kids

Children are brilliant and creative little beings that naturally gravitate toward arts and crafts. Their talents and interests are something to celebrate and provide an excellent opportunity to better get to know your kids. However, if they love arts and crafts, but you can’t remember the last time you held Elmer’s glue in your hand, don’t worry. Keep reading for some easy and fun crafting ideas you can do with your kids to create memories you both won’t forget.

Fairy Garden

Creating a fairy garden is a great option if your kid adores all things nature, from flowers to butterflies and bugs. You can spend hours outside with your little ones, making a tiny garden for the fairies to enjoy. This craft also allows you the time to bond with your child and delve into the fantastical worlds they create.

Head into the backyard with your kids and try to find a little nook that would be just perfect for a fairy garden, like a flowerpot. Then go to your local craft store and purchase miniature knickknacks, furniture, and anything you think a fairy might need.

Noodle Wreath

Foam pool noodles are quite versatile and make for an easy craft that doubles as a decorative wreath you can hang on your door. There are many types of wreaths you can make with pool noodles. You can go with a Fourth of July theme or create a personalized wreath your kids can hang on their door.

To achieve the basic wreath, all you need is to tape the two ends of a foam pool noodle together. Once you decide on a wreath idea, you and the kids can get to decorating to your hearts’ content.

Colorful Stones

A fun and easy craft you can do with your kids is painting or coloring stones. You can add the stones to the fairy garden, keep them as a paper holder, or decorate your walkway with them. The sky is the limit as to how you will decorate your stones, so don’t overthink it. Just have fun and try to get creative!

Go on a nature walk with your kids and look out for smooth stones that are about the size of your palm. Those stones are the perfect size and smoothness for painting. Once you are inside, give the stones a good wash and wait until they are completely dry. Then, you can get to decorating. You can use markers, paint pens, or acrylic paint. If you do decide to paint your stones, make sure to purchase acrylic paint and varnish if you want them to last longer.

Home Improvement Projects You Can Do With Your Kids

By Leave a Comment

It’s always a good idea to teach your children valuable new skills. Sometimes when you have some projects around the house that need doing, it’s a good idea to involve your kids. Of course, several projects that require heavy equipment or sharp instruments may not be the best place to start, but here are some home improvement projects that you can do with your kids to get them started.

Installing a New Doorknob

Whether you’re remodeling, upgrading, or just replacing a knob that’s giving you trouble, installing a new doorknob is a great DIY project for younger kids to gauge their interest. Typically, the only tools you need are screwdrivers that match the necessary screws and a little patience. This is an excellent project because it’s relatively low risk, and if your child makes a mistake, it’s easy to take the screws out and try again.

Measuring Home Skirting

If you live in a mobile home, your house probably has skirting to protect your pipes from external damage related to weather or temperature. Unfortunately, weather can beat up the skirting, and it eventually needs replacing. The full replacement may be a bit too much for small builders, but one way your kids can help with this project is in the preparation.

Many kids love playing with the tape measure. Before replacing your skirting, it’s a good idea to measure the length and width of the exterior of your home and put it into an online skirting calculator. Have your kid grab the tape measure and run it to the other side of the house, allowing you to get the correct numbers. The kids feel involved, and you save a bit of running.

Lawn Care

Maintaining a proper lawn or garden is a valuable step in home care. Depending on your kids’ age, you could show them how to use a lawnmower or focus on watering the grass to keep your yard looking fresh and clean. Learning how to care for a lawn or garden is a great home improvement project for your kids and gets them outside now and then. If you use a sprinkler to water the lawn, offering a bit of summertime fun running through it is a great motivator.

Top Father’s Day Tips for Divorced Parents

By Leave a Comment

After a divorce settlement is final, the work of managing child custody and support arrangements begins. Holidays can still feel strained, even if your divorce settlement spelled the matter out in detail.

Holidays that celebrate parenthood are especially fraught. It might feel like something is missing or diminished. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Consider these top Father’s Day tips for divorced parents.

It’s Not About You

Parent holidays are not actually about parents. They’re about kids. These observances are a chance for your kids to show you how much they love and appreciate you and to celebrate their connection with you, despite your divorce.

Make a big fuss over homemade cards and gifts. Your kids worked hard on them, and their hearts are invested in what they’ve made for you. Regardless of whether your ex was involved, let your child know how much you appreciate their effort.

Communicate Ahead of Time

Perhaps the top Father’s Day tip for divorced parents is communication and planning. If you have an every-other-weekend arrangement and Father’s Day falls on your partner’s weekend, see if you can agree ahead of time to trade weekends so that you can spend Father’s Day with your kids.

If it doesn’t work out, be generous about it. When you’re a Dad, every day is Father’s Day, so reassure your kids that you’ll have a great celebration when it’s your turn for the kids to stay with you.

If You Can’t Be There Physically, Be There Virtually

When it comes to relationships, technology leaves much to be desired. But if it is your only option, make the best of it. Schedule a time to meet online via your preferred app, and plan some online games you can share with your kids. The web is full of sites that provide free games you can share, from trivia to word games to charades.

Try Something New

Accept that you can’t recreate what Father’s Day used to be. Create a new tradition with your kids. Go to a movie, take a hike, visit a zoo, play a board game, or take in a kid-friendly exhibit at a museum. Make a meal together, listen to their kind of music, teach them a new skill, or share a hobby with them.

Money Is Not the Point

Don’t fret if your budget is tight, as it is for most divorced parents. What your kids want is time with you. Maximize your time with your kids in a way that has nothing to do with expensive toys or gadgets.

Be Flexible

Whatever you’ve planned, keep it age appropriate. If you’ve got a teenager, factor some eye-rolling into the day. Don’t disrupt care routines for toddlers. They’ll love you no matter what, but it won’t seem that way if they miss a nap.

If your kids are not thrilled with your ideas for the day, don’t sulk—pivot. Find some other way to spend the day that gives them the time with you they want and lets you be the Dad you want to be.